Pressurized shaving cream compositions



United States Patent PRESSURIZED SHAVING CREAM COMPOSITIONS Norman Fine, South Ozone Park, N.Y., assign'or to C01- gate-Palmolive Company, Jersey City, NJ., a corporation of Delaware N0 Drawing. Application August 8, 1951 Serial No. 240,991

3 Claims. (Cl. 252-90) The present invention relates to novel compositions of matter suitable for use as detergent creams and has particular reference to pressurized shaving cream compositions suitable for packaging under pressure in a dispensing device commonly known as an aerosol dispenser;

, Numerous types of detergent creams particularly adapted for use as shaving cream preparations have been developed within recent years. Such preparations have employed, in general, soaps, i.e. water-soluble salts of higher fatty acids, e.g., lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic acids, etc., as the principal deterging or cleansing agent. The shaving creams which have enjoyed the greatest amount of commercial success have utilized certain water soluble soaps of stearic and palmitic acids together with minor amounts of coconut oil fatty acids as the detergent. These soaps provide products which exhibit high water solubility, have excellent deterging properties, and form a rich and attractive lather.

Attempts, however, to formulate satisfactory pressurized shaving cream compositions for use in conventional aerosol dispensers using such soaps as the detergent have not been entirely satisfactory. Soaps of nitrogen containing bases, i.e., soaps prepared by reacting higher fatty acids with nitrogen containing bases, e.g .,v

ammonia soaps, triethanolamine soaps, etc., when employed in sole combination with a propellant in an aqueous medium, provide products which form relatively large amounts of foam within the container and correspondingly smaller amounts of the desired liquid product. As the liquid product level in the container gradually recedes through use, a smooth evoluation of lather is no longer obtainable. The product is dispensed in the form of bubbles rather than in the form of a smooth, rich lather. This prevents the product from being delivered smoothly from the container, decreases the self-propelling properties of the propellant, and causes undesirable quantities of the product to remain unrecoverable from the container. A further disadvantage of pressurized shaving creams employing triethanolamine soaps as the sole detergent is that the lather remaining within the delivery spout of the container, after each dispensing operation, continues to expand in volume and soon overflows and runs out the openingof the spout. 4

Shaving creams wherein alkali metal soaps, i.e., soaps prepared by reacting higher fatty acids with alkali metal salts, have been used as the detergent have provided equally unsatisfactory pressurized shaving cream compositions. Although such soaps provide excellent shaving preparations when packaged in collapsible metal tube containers, attempts to formulate aerosol compositions containing these soaps in sole combination with a' propellant in an aqueous solvent medium have been unsatisfactory. One of the main disadvantages of such a preparation is that the generated lather is delivered in intermittent spurts rather than in a smooth and uninterrupted fashion. This necessarily results in the loss of a relatively large amount of propellant when such a product is dispensed from the container.

\ The surprising discovery has now been made v cellent pressurized shaving cream compositions can be prepared by employing a' mixture comprising certainwater soluble soaps of higher fatty acids as a-detergent,.

such a detergent, when dispersed in an aqueous solvent medium with a liquefied normally gaseous propellant, provides a product which may be delivered smoothly from the container in the form of a rich, stable lather which does not readily collapse after discharge from the container and subsequent exposure to the atmosphere. The novel pressurized shaving cream compositions of the present'invention are adapted for convenient usein commercially available aerosol. dispensing containers from which practically all of the product may be dispensed.

The soaps, i.e., the water-soluble salts of higher fatty acids, which comprise the detergents used in accordance with the present invention are well known in the art and.

may be prepared in any convenient manner. Soaps of nitrogen containing bases, e.g., triethanolamine soaps,

ammonium soaps, etc., may be prepared by reacting the basic material directly with previously derived higher.

fatty acids, elg., palmitic, stearic acid, etc. Sodium and potassium soaps may be prepared in a similar manner or by reacting sodium or potassium hydroxide with fats, oils, greases, etc. Any of the oils and fats used in detergent processing, such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, tallow, palm oil, etc. may be usedindividually .or in mixtures as fractionated fatty acids or blends thereof,

for making the detergents for the present invention.

The concentration of the detergent employed in thev soaps to the sum of the alkali metal soaps present in the detergent should be within the range of about 1.2 to 2.5. The alkali metal soap fraction should contain at least 3.5 times as much potassium soap as sodium soap.

The aqueous solvent medium of the compositions of the present invention is requisite for the preparation offla shaving cream having desirable lathering properties. It has been found that water (tap water, distilled water, deionized water, etc.) possesses adequate solubility for the detergent and the required dispersibility with the In general, relatively small amounts of lower molecular weight. aliphatic alcohols, preferably lower monohydric alcohols, e.g.,

liquefied normally gaseous propellant.

methanol, ethanol, normal propanol, isopropanol, etc., may be admixed with the. water. Any concentration of alcohol may be used, the only requirement being that the aqueous solvent medium as prepared be sufficient to;

maintain the desired physical characteristics of the shaving cream as indicated above. Furthermore, the alcohol should not be present in an amount which will adversely affect the lathering properties of the finished product.

The amount of the aqueous solvent medium employed generally should amount to at least usually about 70 to about 90%, and preferably about of the total Weight.

As propellants, any suitable liquefied, normally gas-- eous, organic material may be used. In general, said -material should be. substantially non-toxic, non-inflamr Patented Oc t. 13, 1959 that ex- 3 ma ble, low-boiling, odorless, etc. Suitable propellants include liquefied, normally gaseous, low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbon materials, such as halogenated methane, ethane propane, butane, and mixtures thereof. Satisfactory products result from, the use of such mate: rials in view' of their high volatility under usual atmospheric conditions, their stability in and dispersibility' with theaqueous medium, employed, etc. Other halogenated hydrocarbon propellants which have been found. to be particularly suitable for use in accordance with the present, invention include monochlorodifluoromethane, monochlorodifiuoroethane, dichloromonofiuoroethane, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, trichloromonofluoromethane,difluoroethane, etc. In some instances. it; may be desirable to use a. combination of two or more of the liquefied normally gaseous materials as a propellantin order to achieve a suitable pressure within the container and impart the desired properties of stability, propellancy, ease of delivery, etc., to the shaving cream compositions.

The amount of propellant may be varied. depending upon the. properties desired in the final product. In general,.it: need only be present in an amount sufficient to satisfactorily propel or eject the shaving cream from the container in the form of a smooth lather. It has been found, however, that at least about 5% and preferably about..7'% to. about propellant, by weight of the total shaving. cream composition, should be used although higher amounts maybe employed if desired, e.g., up to about The pressurized shavingcream"compositions herein disclosed may be prepared in any suitable manner. One satisfactorymethod' comprises dissolving the detergent in water and adding the'resulting mixture to the pressure container which is subsequently sealed. Thereafter, the propellant while under pressure may be admitted to the container through a valve or other appropriate means,

the container generally being slightly chilled during this In order to indicate even more fully the nature of thepresent invention the following specific examples are set forth. It will beun'derstood that these examples are presented for illustrative purposes only and that they are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention in any manner. The parts given are-by weight unless otherwise indicated. I

Example I About 3.5 parts of triethanolamine soap prepared by reacting triethanolamine with stearic acid and about 1.4 parts; of analkali metal soap mixture comprising about 1 1 partsof potassium soap and about 0.3 part of sodium soap; prepared by reacting the respective caustic materials with stearic acid, are placed in a vessel containing about 90 parts of'deionized water. The mixture is heated to about 130 F'. andstirred until the soaps are dissolved. Thereafter, the mixture is cooled to about 90 F. and any moisture loss made up by the introduction of addit-ional water. The mixture thus prepared is placed in a pressure container. The contents are cooled by suitable means to a temperature of 5 about 5.5 parts of cooled and liquefied propellant comprising approximately 60% dichlorotetrafluorethane (Freon 114) and 40% dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) are then added to the contents after which the container is sealed. The product, after it has warmed to room temperature, is: ready to be dispensed. through the; manually operated valve.

4 Example II About 3 parts of glycerine and about 6 parts of a detergent comprising about 4 parts of triethanolamine soap, about 1.6 parts of potassium soap and about 0.4 part of sodium soap are thoroughly mixed in a vessel containing about 85 parts of Water; The soaps are prepared by reacting the basic materials with palmitic acid. About 1 part of lauryl diethanolamide is then added and the mixture is heated to a temperature of approximately 180 F. When the mixture has cooled to 100 F. it is introduced into a suitable pressure container and cooled to a temperature of about 0 F. Thereafter, about, 5 parts of dichlorodifluoromethane are introduced through the valve.

Example III Following a procedure of filling and mixing as set forth in Example I, about 13.5 parts of a detergent comprising 9 parts of triethanolamine soap, about 315 parts of potassium soap and about 1 part of sodium soap are introduced into a vessel containing about 75 parts of distilled water. Approximately 1.5 parts of lanolin and about 1 part of lecithin. are then added and the mixture is thoroughly stirred. Thereafter, the mixture is transferred to a pressure container and about 9 parts of the same'propel'lant' as described in Example I are admitted through the valve while the contents are slightly cooled.

Example IV (1) A mixture comprising about 1.77 parts of triethanolamine, about 1.71 parts of potassium hydroxide, about 0148 part of sodium hydroxide, about 3.85 parts of glycerine (98%), about 004 parts of borax, about 0.02 part of sodium silicate solution, and about. 84.34 parts of water are placed in a vessel and heated to a temperature of around 180 F. Approximately 5 .36 parts of stearic acid, double pressed, and about 1.12 parts ofthe fatty acids derived from coconut oil are then introduced Percent Triethanolamine soap of stearic acid I 8.0, Sodium soap of stearic acid 1.0 Potassium soap; of stearic acid 4.6-- 7 Water 72.5 Perfume 0.9 Borax 0.5 Propellant a 12.5

Example VI 1 Percent,

Triethanolamine soap of palmitic acid 7.0 Potassium soapof palmitic acid 4.5 Sodiumsoap of stearic acid 1.0 Water 70.0 Isopropanol s 3.0 Perfume .5

Glycerine 3.0 Stearyl triethanolamide' 1.0 Propellant 10.0"

in the vessel and the mixture is thoroughly stirred.

' (2)" Thereafter, an additional 0.34 part of stearic acid, double pressed, and about 0.12 part of coconutv oil are heated toa temperature of about 150 F. and added to the mixture prepared in (1). The resulting mass is stirred and allowed to cool to approximately F. whereupon about 0.85 part of perfume is added.

(3') The cooled mixture is then introduced into a suitable pressure container. The container is then sealed after which about 7.5 parts of a propellant comprising about 60% dichlorotetrafiuorethane and about 40% dichlorodifluoromethane is injected into the container through the valve.

Other suitable formulations productive of desired results include:

Example V As indicated in the preceding examples, the addition of various adjuvant materials to the novel shaving cream compositions is contemplated by the present. invention. Thus, the finished compositions ordinarily will contain a perfume which should be selected so as to be compatible with the character of the finished cream. Also, ingredients which impart further desired qualities to the skin during and after shaving may be incorporated in the present compositions. Thus, skin fresheners or lather stabilizers or the like such as glycerine, lanolin, lecithin, borax, coconut oil, fatty amides, fatty acids, higher alcohols, etc. may generally be used in minor proportions. Furthermore, coloring materials or the like may be used if desired.

The novel shaving cream compositions herein disclosed are adapted for use in conventional aerosol dispensers now in commercial use. Inasmuch as the said dispensers are made from a Wide variety of materials, e.g., aluminum, tinplate, steel, bronze, copper, brass, cadmium, nickel, etc., certain chemical reactions may occur between the said materials and the contained product. As a result, undesirable changes may occur in the color and odor of the product. Furthermore, possible malfunctioning of the valve parts, perforation of the container, etc. may result. In order to avoid such undesirable results, corrosion inhibitors such as silicates, phosphates, nitrates, ben Zoates, borates, etc. may be incorporated in the product before final sealing of the container. In some cases it may be desirable to coat the inside of the container and other parts thereof with which shaving cream may come in contact with a suitable lacquer or other corrosion resistant coating.

While there has been disclosed and described What is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that many modifications and changes and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the tune scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A foaming shaving cream composition packaged in a suitable pressure container provided with a dispensing valve which comprises water soluble soaps of higher fatty acids as a detergent, said water soluble soaps comprising sodium and potassium soaps and soaps of nitrogen-containing bases selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine and ammonium soaps, there being at least 3.5 times as much by weight of potassium soap as sodium soap and the ratio of said soaps of nitrogen-containing bases to the sum of said sodium and potassium soaps being within the range of about 1.2 to about 2.5, at least one liquefied normally gaseous low molecular Weight halogenated hydrocarbon propellant, and an aqueous solvent medium for said detergent in which said propellant is or can be readily dispersed by simple shaking prior to discharging the contents through said valve as a foam product.

2. A foaming shaving cream composition packaged in a pressure container having a suitable valve for dispensing the contents which comprises at least about 4% by weight of a mixture of water soluble soaps of higher fatty acids as a detergent, said water soluble soaps comprising potassium soaps, sodium soaps and soaps of nitrogen-containing bases selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine and ammonium soaps, there being at least 3.5 times as much potassium soap as sodium soap and the ratio of said soaps of nitrogen-containing bases to the sum of said potassium and sodium soaps being within the range of about 1.2 to about 2.5, an effective amount up to about 15% of at least oneliquefied normally gaseous low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbon propellant, and an aqueous solvent medium for said detergent in which said propellant is or can be dispersed by simple shaking prior to dispensing through said valve as a foaming product suitable for shaving.

3. A foaming shaving cream composition packaged in a suitable pressure container having a dispensing valve which comprises about 4 to 15% by weight of a mixture of triethanolamine soaps, sodium soaps and potassium soaps of higher fatty acids as a detergent, there being at least 3.5 times as much by weight of potassium soap as sodium soap and the ratio of said triethanolamine soap to the sum of said potassium and sodium soaps being within the range of about 1.2 to about 2.5, about 5 to 15% by weight of a liquefied normally gaseous low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbon propellant comprising about dichlorotetrafluoroethane and about 40% dichlorodifluoromethane, and an aqueous solvent medium for said detergent in which said propellant is or can be readily dispersed by simple shaking prior to dispensing the composition through said valve as a foaming mass suitable for shaving.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,892,750 Rotheim Jan. 3, 1933 2,524,590 Boe Oct. 3, 1950 2,655,480 Spitzer Oct. 13, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES Chilson: Modern Cosmetics (1938), pages 156, 165, 167, 168.

Drug and Cosmetic Industry, vol. 67, July 1950, pages 36, 37, 125, 126, 127, 128.

Hilfer: Drug and Cosmetic Industry, vol. 67, October 1950, pages 482, 483, 562, 563.

Du Pont Technical Bulletin, vol. 7, June 1951, pages 81, 82 and 83. 

1. A FORMING SHAVING CREAM COMPOSITION PACKAGED IN A SUITABLE PRESSURE CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A DISPENSING VALVE WHICH COMPRISES WATER SOLUBLE SOAPS OF HIGHER FATTY ACIDS AS A DETERGENT, SAID WATER SOLUBLE SOAPS COMPRISING SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SOAPS AND SOAPS OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING BASES SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF TRIETHANOLAMINE AND AMMONIUM SOAPS, THERE BEING AT LEAST 3.5 TIMES AS MUCH BY WEIGHT OF POTASSIUM SOAP AS SODIUM SOAP AND THE RATIO OF SAID SOAPS OF NITROGEN-CONTAINING BASES TO THE SUM OF SAID SODIUM AND POTASSIUM SOAPS BEING WITHIN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 1.2 TO ABOUT 2.5 AT LEAST ONE LIQUEFIED NORMALLY GASEOUS LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT HALOGENATED HYDROCARBON PROPELLANT, AND AN AQUEOUS SOLVENT MEDIUM FOR SAID DETERGENT IN WHICH SAID PROPELLANT IS OR CAN BE READILY DISPERSED BY SIMPLE SHAKING PRIOR TO DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS THROUGH SAID VALVE AS A FORM PRODUCT. 